Manson Family
Brutally murdered seven people to start an apocalyptical race war that was prophesied by The Beatles
1967 - 1969
Charles Manson had always been on the wrong side of the law, with a history of stealing cars, robbing gas stations, and prostituting women. By the time he started the Manson Family at age 32, he had already been institutionalized or incarcerated for more than half his life and requested to stay in prison.
Manson was released in 1967 and became a spiritual guru with a small group of followers during Summer of Love. Initially preaching a relatively standard message against materialism, Manson's teachings became more extreme as time went on. Most significantly, he claimed that there would soon be an apocalyptic race war and that the musical group The Beatles had been putting secret messages about this war in their music directed toward the Manson Family. According to Manson, black people would overthrow the whites but would not have the ability to lead themselves. Therefore, the Manson family would rise as the new world leaders.
As Manson's teachings became more extreme, so did his actions. After shooting a drug dealer, Manson became paranoid and turned their home into a defensive camp with armed guards. Later, members unsuccessfully tried to swindle a man out of his money and ended up holding him hostage for two days and stabbing him to death.
Most significantly, though, followers of Manson went to the house of actress Sharon Tate, who was almost nine months pregnant. There, they brutally murdered her, along with four others, and wrote messages in the blood of their victims. The next night, his followers murdered two more people in a similar fashion. Investigators speculate that this happened to initiate the apocalyptic race war by tricking the public into thinking that black people were the murderers.
In the end, five members, including Manson, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Today, the nation remembers them as one of the most brutal cults of the 20th century.
Religion: Other
Founder: Charles Manson
Location: San Fernando Valley, California, USA
Founded: 1967
Ended: 1969
Manson claimed that black people were less evolved and were only fit to be slaves (source)
Believed that the white race would be destroyed by the black race (source)
Believed that the Black race would be unable to rule the earth after the race war and would have to call on Manson to lead them (source)
Manson claimed to have a unique ability to understand prophecy (source)
Manson called himself "Charles Willis Manson," which he would say slowly, so it sounds like "Charles' will is Man's Son," implying that he has the same will as Jesus (source)
One follower said Manson "represented a Jesus Christ-like person to me" (source)
After Gary Allen Hinman refused to join the family, they held him hostage for two days and murdered him (source)
Murdered five people on Aug 8, 1969, including actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant (source)
Murdered two people on Aug 9-10, 1969 (source)
Claims to have killed 35 people (source)
Manson directed the sex lives of his members, telling them who to have sex with (source)
Other Info:
Shot a black drug dealer after he threatened to kill the family, due to being defrauded by them (source p. 63)
Wrote messages and drew pictures in their victim's blood (source p. 65)
Believed that The White Album by the Beatles had cryptic messages for the family (source)
Believed that members were the reincarnation of the original Christians (source)